Global Vision - Spring 2012

Easter Greetings from the Global Mission Institute

by Elizabeth Flomo, GMI/CCE Project Coordinator

Spring is a time of transition, and so it is with the GMI.

Chenar Howard is transitioning to work more closely with Marie Hayes, director of the office of International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA). She will also continue to work with the GMI office. Elizabeth Flomo will remain as project coordinator for the Global Mission Institute and Cross-Cultural Education offices.

A significant impact of this transition is that cultural adjustment and retention services for international students will now be fully housed in the student affairs office.

What's next for the GMI? Read on.

The stories in this Global Vision highlight the GMI's multifaceted engagement with the changing face of global mission around the world.

Many students come to Luther to deepen their leadership impact in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world. The GMI lifts up the importance of global mission engagement for domestic students and leadership development for international students.

Through events like the Love All Around the World concert, the GMI continues its support for the International Student Scholarship Fund. Additionally, the GMI and CCE oversee scholarship funds for international study and research. This academic year, five students directly benefited from scholarship support for cross-cultural learning and study in Senegal, Germany and Rwanda, and with indigenous people of North America. Resources are already earmarked for next year's cross-cultural course in Israel/Palestine.

Critical to the GMI's presence on Luther's campus is building relationships with faculty, staff and domestic and international students. We are a place that delights in listening to, and processing the impact of, stories of cross-cultural engagement.

Also important in this work is providing a place to share these stories with a broader audience. In this edition of Global Vision, we hear from current student Amy Swenson, '10, Bruce Eldevik, reference librarian, and recent alum Noreen Nazir, '11, about their connections to and leadership within the global church.

As the GMI fosters these relationships, we also seek to provide regular education about and opportunities for engagement with the global church. As part of this, the GMI regularly receives and meets congregational requests for speakers and worship leaders for global mission celebrations and educational forums, as well as hosting international guests of congregations and organizations for on-campus visits and meetings.

As you will read in the Rev. Dr. Falres Ilomo's faculty biography, his presence on campus as our 2012 Schiotz Visiting Professor has provided many opportunities for conversation and lectures on African theology and mission history. We hope that some of you will be able to join us for his lecture later this month, The Legacy of Missionary Teaching in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Today.

Another wonderful example of engagement with the global church, while lifting up the legacy of our international alumni, came as the GMI co-hosted 75 people for the Gudina Tumsa Theological Forum last month. Named in honor of Gudina Tumsa, '66, this conference presented an opportunity for scholars, theologians and friends of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus to engage in theological reflection with one another and other interested attendees.

This year, the GMI also drew on connections with local multicultural congregations to serve as a catalyst for an Association of Theological Schools grant exploring the pastoral practice of Christian hospitality as presence and accompaniment in Christian-Muslim engagement.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers, support and encouragement, all of which enables the GMI in our mission to foster an awareness of and engagement with the global church among the Luther Seminary community and beyond!